Physiotherapy is known as "the art and science underlying movement and function." Moreover, the Canadian Physiotherapy Association's job description says physiotherapy "is a primary care, autonomous, client-focused health profession dedicated to improving quality of life." According to them, people who perform physiotherapy jobs work at promoting optimal mobility and physical activity; preventing disease, injury, and disability; managing acute and chronic conditions, activity limitations, and participation restrictions; Improving and maintaining optimal functional independence and physical performance; rehabilitating injury and the effects of disease or disability with therapeutic exercise programs and other interventions; and educating and planning maintenance and support programs to prevent re-occurrence, re-injury or functional decline.
In Canada, there are more than 20,000 registered physiotherapists and most of them are currently active, working in hospitals, clinics, community health centres, long-term care, assisted-living facilities, and other healthcare settings. However, people dedicated to physiotherapy jobs are not limited to the rehabilitation of patients who have suffered from disease, injuries or disability. They also use their in-depth knowledge of the body and how it works with specialized hands-on clinical skills to provide education and advice for health promotion.
In terms of salary, according to multiple sources, the average pay of a physiotherapist in Canada is just over $40 per hour for treating clients and patients of all ages and with a wide range of health conditions. This average salary is standard for physiotherapy jobs, part-time or full-time, whether they are focused on pain management, rehabilitation from an acute injury, or management of chronic conditions.
Professionals that work in this field also make money independently by working part-time or full-time at creating personalized exercise programs designed to improve people's strength, range of motion, and function; providing massages and performing joint mobilization and manipulation to reduce pain and stiffness; managing problems like incontinence (including pelvic floor re-education); and much more.
To become a physiotherapist, it is essential to have a university-based education from any one of the fifteen university programs across Canada accredited with Physiotherapy Education Accreditation Canada (PEAC) that offer Clinical Master’s and/ or thesis-based Master’s programs, as well as Doctorate programs in rehabilitation or physiotherapy-related disciplines.
Once physiotherapists in Canada meet the national entry-level education and practice standards and pass the national Physiotherapy Competency Examination (PCE), which is a standardized competency test, they can be registered with the college of physiotherapists in their province or territory and start looking for work.
Physiotherapists with foreign education, on the other hand, need to take several steps to get registered to work in Canada. First, they must complete the Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulators (CAPR) educational credentials and qualifications assessment (this can be done before migrating to Canada.) Then, candidates have to prove their language skills or take a language test and, finally, pay all necessary fees.
To find public or private physiotherapy jobs, physiotherapists have multiple options available, but we believe that the best alternative to connect with top employers in the field is to join our Caring Support platform.
Our platform allows physiotherapists to create free healthcare worker profiles and offers multiple features and tools that facilitate and accelerate the job-hunting process. On top of that, we help healthcare workers build impactful and well-designed resumes through our new Resume Builder, which is a big plus.
Read More: Sample Resume For Physiotherapist Jobs
We answer the most common questions about physiotherapy jobs so you can make informed decisions about this career.
Physiotherapy is a great career with many employment prospects in Canada thanks to the growing and aging population that consistently increases the demand for physiotherapy. This is happening because as people grow old, they are more likely to suffer from injuries, chronic and acute pain, and other issues. Also, healthcare experts say that COVID-19 may have also increased the demand for some physiotherapy services.
Read More: Why Is Physiotherapy For Paralysis A Good Career?
Like any other healthcare worker group, physiotherapists can become medical doctors if they enroll in the necessary academic programs and meet all the requirements. However, being a physiotherapist is not a fast track to becoming a doctor, it just provides deep knowledge about the human body and the healthcare field.
Physiotherapists work in multiple settings including community centres, private clinics, and home care services. Physiotherapy services can also be affiliated with retirement residences and even child development centres. Moreover, these healthcare professionals work in hospitals, where they care for patients who are getting certain types of surgery, such as a joint replacement or heart surgery.
Apart from working as physiotherapists, people in this career path can work as personal trainers, massage therapists, chiropractors, occupational therapists and other related roles.
Physiotherapy is a flexible career that allows people to advance in the field by working part-time only, if they choose to do so. This is especially convenient for physiotherapists who have jobs in other industries but don't want to stop practicing altogether, or for people who decided to pursue a second career in physiotherapy, but are yet to make the full-time jump to the field. Whatever the case may be, finding a part-time physiotherapy job is easy if you know where to look, like the Caring Support platform, where you can find employment in this and other healthcare-related roles.
Read More: Physiotherapist Job Interview Questions and Answers
Are you passionate about helping others recover and improve their physical well-being? A career in physiotherapy might be your calling! At Caring Support, we’re dedicated to guiding aspiring healthcare professionals like you towards the educational path that best suits your goals and talents.
Don’t leave your future to chance. Your dream of becoming a physiotherapist is within reach, and we’re here to help you achieve it.
Ready to discover your ideal physiotherapy program? Click here to start your personalized matching process with Caring Support. Our platform offers a curated selection of Canadian schools and physiotherapy programs, coupled with expert guidance to help you navigate your options.
Find the right physiotherapy program to start your career; begin by filling out the form on our student admissions page.
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